The Graduate Program in Family and Consumer Sciences leads to a Master of Science Degree. The Program is designed to be somewhat flexible so that individual needs may be considered in program planning. Students may earn a Graduate Degree with emphasis in any of the Areas of Family and Consumer Sciences identified as part of the undergraduate program. Particular emphasis is given to the Options of Apparel Design and Merchandising, Consumer Affairs, Family Studies, Interior Design, and Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Science.

A. Requirements for Admission to the Program:

For admission as a Classified graduate student, the following requirements must be satisfied:

1. An undergraduate GPA of 2.5 plus adequate performance on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or an overall GPA of 3.0. Students with an undergraduate grade point average of 2.5 to 2.99 will be admitted to the Department as Conditionally Classified graduate students, but they must have an adequate GRE score to become Classified. Students applying to the Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Science (NDFS) Option must have an adequate GRE score before being admitted into the program.
2. A Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited institution with selected approved Upper Division courses in Family and Consumer Sciences or the equivalent. Those students without adequate background courses will be asked to complete any prerequisites considered essential.
3. The satisfaction of any other University requirements for Classified status, such as the Upper Division Writing Proficiency Exam.
4. Formal approval by the Department, based on the total record of the student.

B. Requirements for a Masters of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences

1. Required Courses (6 units)

FCS 681 Research Methods (3)
FCS 682 Research Applications (3)

2. Electives (24 units)

This is the minimum amount of approved graduate coursework, to be selected with an advisor. Some Areas of study require specific coursework. A maximum of 9 units may be at the 400-level.

3. Capstone: Select one of the following:

A. Thesis or Project

1. The proposal must be approved by the student’s Committee and the Graduate Coordinator.
2. The student will register first for FCS 696C for 3 units, to begin research work; upon completion of FCSC 696C, the student will register for 698C. These units may be included in the elective total.
3. The student must successfully defend the thesis or project at an oral exam.

B. Comprehensive Examination

1. The student will register for FCS 697C—Directed Comprehensive Studies (3 units). These units may not be counted in the elective total.
2. The student must earn a minimum grade of “B” on the examination.
3. Passing course work for the Master’s Degree does not guarantee passing of the Comprehensive Examination.

Unit Minimum for the M.S. Degree: 30-33

Accredited Dietetics Internship (15 units)

The Dietetics Internship (DI) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (A.N.D.). The DI Program is a graduate program that requires a separate admission procedure after – or concurrent with – admission to graduate study in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS). Students selected for the DI Program must have completed a ACEND-accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD). The FCS DI program has two concentrations: Community Nutrition and Nutrition Therapy. The DI consists of a minimum of 12-16 hours of supervised practicum (through enrollment in FCS 570, 571 and 572 on a Credit/No Credit basis) and five graduate courses (15 units). The graduate courses are:

FCS 573 Seminar for Dietetic Interns (3)
FCS 606 Vitamin and Mineral Metabolism (3)
FCS 607 Carbohydrate, Lipid and Protein Metabolism (3)
FCS 681 Research Methods (3)
FCS 682 Research Applications (3)